New paper : Noncontact Operational Modal Analysis of Structural Members by LDV February 2, 2009
Posted by dionsiringo in Vibration, mechanical vibration.add a comment
A system that uses ambient vibration and two laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) is developed for noncontact operational modal analysis of structural members. The system employs natural excitation technique (NExT) to generate the cross-correlation functions from laser signals, and the eigensystem realization algorithm (ERA) to identify modal parameters of structural members. To facilitate simultaneous modal identification, time-synchronization technique and construction of cross-correlation functions from ambient response of laser signals are proposed. Performance of the proposed system is verified experimentally by evaluating the consistency and accuracy of identification results in different measurement conditions. The work presented here is an extension of the previous study, where a modal-based damage detection method using LDV was formulated.
In the present study, application of LDV for structural parameters identification of a combined dynamical system is proposed. A model that represents the connection properties in terms of additional stiffness and damping is developed, and its importance for structural damage detection is discussed. The study shows that the presence of simulated damage in a steel connection can be detected by tracking the modal phase difference and by quantifying the additional stiffness and damping.
Observed Dynamic Characteristics during Progressive Damage Test of a Flyover Bridge December 4, 2008
Posted by dionsiringo in Bridge Engineering, Destructive Test of Bridge, Structural Monitoring, Vibration, mechanical vibration, paper work.add a comment
Progressive destructive test of a structure is an important and rare opportunity to observe the change in structural characteristics. During the step-by-step demolition process, we can measure structural response and learn how the dynamic characteristics evolve. This insight is valuable in evaluating structural performance and in setting the benchmark for typical deterioration of structure. In this paper, we discuss the evolution of dynamic characteristics of a reinforced concrete bridge during a destructive test.
An instrumented box girder flyover bridge is sequentially damaged by cutting the tendons of its main span. Ambient vibration measurement was performed during destructive test and dynamic characteristics of the bridge were evaluated in each damage stage. The results show the change of natural frequencies is clearly visible as an indicator of global damage presence, while the change in damping distribution may be used as the local damage indicator.
Okutama Cable-Stayed Bridge : TMD for supression of Vortex-Induced Vibration April 3, 2008
Posted by dionsiringo in Bridge Engineering, Jembatan Cable-stayed, Teknik Sipil, Vibration, mechanical vibration, visit.4 comments

The Okutama Cable-stayed Bridge
Recently I had a very rare opportunity to go inside a cable-stayed bridge girder. The bridge is the Okutama Bridge, a single pylon cable-stayed bridge located at the Okutama area west part of Tokyo. The span length is 160 + 105 meter and the girder width is 12 m. The A-shape tower is made of steel reinforced concrete . The main girder is composed of double-span continuous steel double-box girder. Bridge construction was completed in 1996 and has become a part of the Okutama-Ohme Line in west part of Tokyo ever since.
We went inside the bridge following a group of Korean engineers, who are interested in the Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) system installed in this bridge. Unlike any other bridges that have TMD installed on the towers, in this bridge the TMD was installed on the girder.
The main reason for TMD installation is to suppress the Vortex-Induced Vibration (VIV) in vertical direction of the grider. As mentioned in the paper published by the designer and owner of the bridge, wind tunnel test of the current design girder revealed that vortex-induced vibration in vertical and torsional direction were evident under the wind velocity of 10 and 45 m/s, respectively. Both types of vibration had caused vertical amplitudes that were higher than the permissible one.
Tuned Mass Damper (0.8 ton of mass), main spring (white coil),and adjustable cantilever arm (in the middle)
In order to suppress the vibration, two measures were considered, one is aerodynamic measures by increasing aerodynamic damping using flaps, and the other is by mechanical measures such as installing a tuned-mass damper. The aerodynamic measure was abandoned for aesthetic and pedestrian safety precautions reasons, the TMD measure was selected instead.
Eight units of TMD were installed inside the girder, where each consists of mass (0.8 ton), springs (two of them: main and supporting springs) and a cylinder type of oil damper. The main spring, which has a form of coil, is connected to the mass by steel cantilever. Due to limited space inside the girder, the natural frequency of TMD is controlled by changing the position of the mass through an internal adjusting mechanism.
The bridge and its vibration control system are very impressive. In fact, it is the first girder VIV controlled bridge in Japan. However, when we visited the site, I was quite surprise to see that not so many passerby or vehicles crossing the bridge.
Structures with Human-Induced Vibration – How Serviceability Requirement Improves Vibration Design Concept July 25, 2007
Posted by dionsiringo in Vibration, mechanical vibration, opinion, paper work.1 comment so far
In the past few years, human body motions have quite often caused serious structural vibration problems. We have seen several excessive vibration problems caused by human motion during the service of structures. Human-induced vibrations were sometimes not considered in vibration suppression design due to the fact that the problem itself is primarily serviceability problem. Main considerations for structural dynamic design are safety against the occurrence of major vibration impact to the structures such as: earthquake, wind-induced vibration, traffic-induced vibration or/and impact-induced that might lead to structural failure at a catastrophic level. Human-induced vibrations, which were perceived only as serviceability problem in term of annoyance and disturbance to the users, accordingly have not been addressed properly in design code.
Several latest reports on cases, where human-induced vibrations were found excessive and annoying, however, have changed the common perspective on this problem. The closing of Millenium Bridge in London right after its completion due to excessive human-induced lateral vibration is one major case that took public attention. Thus following this report and some other previous cases, researcher, structural engineers and building authority have work together to accommodate users convenience requirements (serviceability) to provide better structures that suppress the anticipated human-induced vibration.
Laser Doppler Vibrometer for Damage Detection April 29, 2007
Posted by dionsiringo in Structural Monitoring, Vibration, mechanical vibration.add a comment
The paper presents a study on the application of a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) for structural health monitoring using ambient vibration. The work covers three important issues namely, data acquisition, system identification, and structural damage detection. A two-laser system is employed for data acquisition using ambient response of the structure. Modal parameters are estimated by the eigensystem realization algorithm, after first deriving the impulse response functions from both laser responses using the Natural Excitation Technique.
In damage detection, a new matrix-updating-based method is proposed. The essential feature of this method is the non-iterative solving technique of inverse problem, which allows damage to be located and quantified by employing the modal parameters obtained before and after damage. Numerical simulation and laboratory-scaled experiments using bolted lap joint plate demonstrate that the proposed technique can detect locations and magnitude of damage with incomplete modal information.

